Poll

I read and reread the ministry of special cases and thought it was excellent. I have read all of the Adam Lapid books but am saving the latest one for an upcoming mini vacation. Meiselman has been on my kindle quite awhile and think now is the time to read it! I heard the author speak and he was very engaging, (thank you literary Modiin and Julie Zuckerman). so I nominated it and it gets my vote!

Death in Jerusalem, for me thanks.

Friends/members
We want this poll to be on the announced topic and to represent the wishes of the group in that regard, and we've had indications of difficulties along those lines.
So, for the purposes of this poll, we will not allow the votes of new members who join after this point in time to count, on this poll, that is.
Only this poll is affected.
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Jan

Shelley wrote: "I read and reread the ministry of special cases and thought it was excellent. I have read all of the Adam Lapid books but am saving the latest one for an upcoming mini vacation. Meiselman has been ..."

Yes, Avner was very engaging at the Literary Modiin event about a year ago. Glad you enjoyed it, Shelley!

Julie wrote: "...Yes, Avner was very engaging at the Literary Modiin event about a year ago. Glad you enjoyed it, Shelley!"

Not sure I saw that one and was thinking of checking it out!

Here are some brief notes on availability of the books, which might play in to how people vote:

The Ministry of Special Cases by Nathan Englander -- available used plus most likely in public libraries
Meiselman: The Lean Years by Avner Landes is available used although not in my library
Missing Person by the Nobel laureate Patrick Modiano -- some paperbacks available cheap plus Kindle for around $3. Five copies in my public library!
A Death in Jerusalem New but not too pricey, and the history is an added benefit
The Rise of David Levinsky, by Abraham Cahan Used copies available plus could be in synagogue libraries

Right now, we have a tie. More votes needed!
... and, would be great if a few more votes entered into the decision.

Ministry of Special Cases has been on my radar for awhile. Usually I recommend books to my dad but this time he recommended this one to me. Author Englander is friends with Colum McCann and they read each other’s manuscripts. For me that is enough.

I didn't notice that, in the last 30 minutes or so before midnight last night, the poll had become tied again! So, opening it up through Sunday night to see if we can break the tie.

I'm still going with Patrick Modriano

Jazzy wrote: "I'm still going with Patrick Modriano"

✔

David Levinsky

Perlie wrote: "David Levinsky"

That one, too, is on my mental "to-read" list!

In some future poll we could go totally with nominations from that "100 Greatest Works" list!

I like the 100 greatest works idea but a lot of those books aren’t accessible. I’ll keep Levinsky on my future radar.

Brina wrote: "I like the 100 greatest works idea but a lot of those books aren’t accessible. I’ll keep Levinsky on my future radar."

Yep, we'd have to be sure any nominations were accessible.